April 28, 2021
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Sport WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL 2021 PSG keep their feet on the ground ahead of Manchester City clash, says Pochettino I think City are one of the greatest teams in the world with the best coach and it will be as tough as against Bayern at least. Tougher? We'll see. Mauricio Pochettino Sport |19 NBA: Suns 118, Knicks 110; Timberwolves 105, Jazz 104; Nuggets 120, Grizzlies 96; Pelicans 120, Clippers 103; Lakers 114, Magic 103 Draw sets the stage for spectacular FIFA Arab Cup Hosts Qatar and Iraq in Group A CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA Qatar is very excited to Reigning Asian champions Qatar host the FIFA Arab Cup will take on regional heavy- weights Iraq and two other qual- later this year. National ifiers in the group stage of the teams from across the inaugural FIFA Arab Cup 2021, region will have the the draw revealed yesterday. opportunity to participate The two Arab football giants have been drawn in Group A and in a high-profile will be joined by the winners of tournament which is sure two qualifying matches: Oman to capture the attention of vs Somalia and Bahrain vs fans everywhere. This is Kuwait in the December 1-18 tournament.. also an important step for FIFA’s Director of Competi- the national team’s tions, Manolo Zubiria conducted development and the yesterday’s draw in the presence entire country as we of FIFA legends Wael Gomaa (Egypt), Nawaf Al Temyat (Saudi fine-tune preparations for Arabia), Haytham Mustafa the FIFA World Cup in (Sudan) and Younus Mahmood 2022. (Iraq) at the Katara Opera House. A host of top officials, including the President of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Olympic Committee, H E Sheikh bin Ahmed Al Thani Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Pres- President, Qatar Football ident of Union of Arab Football Association Associations, HRH Prince A view of FIFA Arab Cup 2021 draw ceremony yesterday. Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery just numbers on paper. You need FIFA ARAB CUP Saudi Arabia's legend & Legacy, Hassan Al Thawadi, to prove it in the field. Hopefully, Nawaf Al Temyat picks FIFA President Gianni Infantino, we’re going to perform well and 2021 Qatar during the draw FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 we can show good performance. ceremony. This tournament will see Chief Executive Officer Nasser If we do that, it’s we have a QUALIFYING ROUND elite teams from across the Al Khater, President of the Qatar better chance to reach far. Which Arab world compete in a Football Association Sheikh will be good for us as we are (14 teams, 7 matches) Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed looking forward to the World Oman vs Somalia FIFA-sanctioned Al Thani and coaches of the par- Cup. So hopefully we’re going to Lebanon vs Djibouti tournament for the first ticipating teams were among the perform well and we can bring Jordan vs South Sudan time. A tournament of this guests at the spectacular draw some good results,” Sanchez Bahrain vs Kuwait magnitude – played exactly ceremony which was held under said. Mauritania vs Yemen strict COVID-19 protocols. FIFA President said last Palestine vs Comoros a year before the World Twenty three Arab nations night: “This will be a fantastic Libya vs Sudan Cup – is sure to excite our will compete in the event which event. The first of many, hope- football crazy region as we will kick off in December with fully. The first Arab Cup will be GROUPS continue preparations for the qualifying round. played here towards the end of GROUP A: Qatar, Iraq, Oman 2022. We look forward to Commenting on the draw, the year in Qatar. This event will or Somalia, Bahrain or Kuwait Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said be used to unite the Arab world. GROUP B: Tunisia, UAE, Syria, hosting the FIFA Arab Cup the home tournament is really Around 450 million people will Mauritania or Yemen and using the tournament important. cheer and cherish and will find GROUP C: Morocco, Saudi to confirm our plans for the “For us, it is an important out which out of the 23 teams is Arabia, Jordan or South Sudan, event because we can evaluate the best in the Arab world,” World Cup, which is just how we will perform at the Infantino said. Palestine or Comoros around the corner. GROUP D: World Cup next year,” Sanchez “Everything is almost ready Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon or Djibouti, Libya or said yesterday. in Qatar to host the Arab Cup and Hassan Al Thawadi “In my opinion, it is a strong the World Cup. Much more Sudan group though we have con- important is the celebration of Secretary General, Supreme firmed only one opponent. The Arab unity, a celebration of fra- tournament a highly competitive for us. The Confederations Cup was international tournaments this Committee for Delivery & other (possible) opponents ternity, a celebration of football one. always the main test event for year, the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 Legacy (Oman, Somalia, Bahrain or which will set the scene for what “The technical level of previous World Cups. For us, will see the seven qualifying Kuwait) we may face are also would be the best ever FIFA football in all the countries has this will be a 23 team tour- teams advancing to the group strong and hopefully we can World Cup in 2022 here in been improving over the years. nament, 16 teams in the group stage where they will take on the perform well and qualify for the Qatar,” Infantino said. For us, what’s important is that stages. So it is a big tour- nine highest-ranked teams, semi-finals, third-place play- next round,” Sanchez added. Al Khater, CEO of Qatar 2022 this is going to be a successful nament and it is a big oppor- including Qatar. off and final. “If we want to be one of the accepted the fact that football in tournament from a technical tunity for the celebration of The four group winners The matches will take place favourites or to reach far in the the Arab region in general has perspective and from a foot- football in the Arab world,” Al and four group runners-up at six Qatar 2022 stadiums, with competition, we’ll have to prove reached a higher level and that balling perspective. Khater said. will proceed to the knockout the venues set to be confirmed on the pitch. These rankings are makes the FIFA Arab Cup “This is an important milestone One of the biggest stage: quarter-finals, in due course. Benzema stunner for Real frustrates impressive Chelsea REUTERS — MADRID but could not break down Real and we must enjoy it. Cruyff's again and then had to withstand idea was like this." Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema some late pressure from the Cruyff, who created Barce- scored an acrobatic goal to hosts, who visit Stamford Bridge lona's "Dream Team" with cancel out an earlier strike from in the second leg on May 5 players such as Guardiola, led Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic as looking to reach the final for a them to their first European Cup yesterday’s Champions League fifth time in eight years. in 1992. semi-final first leg ended 1-1 to Meanwhile, Manchester City City last reached a semi- keep the tie delicately balanced. manager Pep Guardiola passed final in 2016 under Manuel Pel- Chelsea made a bright start on some simple advice to his legrini, when they were in heavy rain at the Alfredo di players from his late mentor knocked out by Real Madrid. Stefano Stadium and deservedly Johan Cruyff ahead of the first Guardiola is hoping to go one went ahead when US forward leg of their Champions League step further. Pulisic rounded Thibaut semi-final, away at Paris St City take on a PSG side Courtois to score in the 14th Germain tonight: Enjoy stacked with talent such as minute. yourselves. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid’s Thirteen times European "Enjoy the travel, the coffee Angel Di Maria leading the line Karim Cup winners Real looked ragged in the terminal, the night and and Marco Verratti in midfield, Benzema and short on ideas but pulled the dinner, watching the other but Guardiola said he would not shoots level in the 29th with a moment semi-final, enjoy the press con- be changing their blueprint when at goal, of true class from the talismanic ference, the walk, the training," playing Mauricio Pochettino's yesterday. Benzema, who controlled a Guardiola told reporters yes- side. knockdown on his chest before terday while describing Cruyff's "The best balance is to have volleying into the roof of the net. philosophy. the ball. If you have the ball all Chelsea looked the better "We are privileged to be one the time the balance is there," side in the second half as well of the best four teams in Europe Guardiola said. Sport WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL 2021 19 Qatar's Cherif, Ahmed win back-to-back silver in Cancun Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum celebrate after winning the FIVB World Tour Second Cancun Hub on Monday. It was their second FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour gold medal this month, following a win in the opening Cancun Hub tournament in which they Qatar’s Cherif Samba and Ahmed Tijan pose for a photograph after wining the silver medal after going down fighting in the final of the FIVB World defeated the Qatar's Cherif and Ahmed. The 23-year- Tour Second Cancun Hub event in Playa Delfines in Mexico, on Monday.